Fiber-reinforced plastics, commonly referred to as FRP, are composite materials with a polymer matrix reinforced with fibers. FRP can vary based on the types of polymer and fibers used in manufacturing. One of the most common and well-known fiber-reinforced plastics is fiberglass, where glass fibers provide reinforcement to a thermoset polymer matrix.
Uses and Benefits of FRP
Compared to metals, plastics, and other traditional materials used for structural applications, FRP offers a number of benefits, listed below.
Increased strength to weight ratio
Lower cost
Low conductivity
Improved flexibility
Better ability to be molded into complex shapes
Chemical inertness
For these reasons, FRP is commonly used as an alternative to metal or plastics. The applications are nearly endless, including storage tanks, piping, automobile parts, ship hulls, and general building and construction materials.
Common Types of Resin Used in FRP
As mentioned above, fiberglass consists of a thermosetting resin reinforced with glass fibers. A number of resins are used in FRPs like fiberglass, including epoxy, vinyl ester, and polyester resins. By far, the most common type of FRP resin is polyester. Polyester-based FRP resins are popular due to their ease of use and good temperature and chemical resistance. However, in some fiberglass applications, the chemical or heat resistance of polyester is not enough, and a more durable material is needed.
QuaCorr® - Corrosion & Flame Resistant FRP Resins
QuaCorr® is a line of furfuryl alcohol–based resin systems designed to manufacture corrosion-resistant and flame-retardant FRP products. FRP composites based on QuaCorr® exhibit better chemical resistance, temperature resistance, and fire-retardant properties than polyester composites.
Chemical Resistance
QuaCorr® FRP is highly resistant to aggressive solvents, strong acids, and strong bases. It is especially useful in applications where a solvent is combined with an acid or base, such as in chemical processing, agricultural chemical manufacturing, and acrylate production. In the table below, the corrosion-resistant properties of QuaCorr® composites are compared to common metals and polyester composites.
Material of Construction
H₂SO₄
HCL
NaOH
CS₂
Toluene
MEK
Chloro Benzene
Ethylene Dichloride
Carbon Steel
R
A
R
R
R
R
R
R
Stainless Steel
R
A
A
R
R
R
R
R
Hastelloy C®
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
Aluminum
A
A
A
R
R
R
R
R
Polyester
R
R
A
A
R
A
A
A
QuaCorr®
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
A = Attacked, R = Resistant
Flame Resistance
In addition to outstanding corrosion resistance, QuaCorr® composites have inherent fire-retardant properties. The highly cross-linked nature of cured furan resin coupled with a high char yield gives QuaCorr® resin natural low flame spread and low smoke development properties. Typical fire and smoke test results for laminates made of QuaCorr® 1001 are listed in the table below.
Test
Result
Flame Spread ASTM E-84
70
Smoke Development ASTM E-84
120
Radiant Panel Test ASTM E-162
61
NBS Smoke Density ASTM E-662
62
Limited Oxygen Index ASTM D-2863
25
Temperature Resistance
Temperature should be an important consideration when selecting materials for developing composites. With polymeric material, physical strength tends to decrease as temperature increases. With QuaCorr® resins, however, this decrease in strength is essentially linear between −50°F and 450°F rather than the sharp decrease in properties exhibited by styrenated polyester laminates. This provides easier calculations and more predictable results when engineering FRP structures using QuaCorr®.
Flexural Strength vs. Temperature
How to Use QuaCorr®
FRP products can be fabricated from QuaCorr® by hand layup, spray-up, and filament-winding techniques. QuaCorr® is an acid-catalyzed, modified furfural alcohol system that consists of two parts: the resin, QuaCorr® 1001 or QuaCorr® 1300, and the catalyst, QuaCorr® 2001. Once the resin and catalyst are blended, curing proceeds via a condensation mechanism where water is produced as a byproduct. The reactivity of the QuaCorr® system has been optimized to allow a reasonable balance between pot life and viscosity, as well as rapid hardness development at ambient temperatures.
Summary
QuaCorr® resins are the ideal choice for producing fiberglass that must perform in the most extreme conditions. QuaCorr® has superior chemical resistance compared to resins such as polyester and has inherent flame resistance. It also has higher temperature resistance and more predictable flexural strength change at higher temperatures. Click below to request samples of the QuaCorr® system today.
